When you run a restaurant or a bar, the ability to sell alcoholic beverages is crucial to your company’s bottom line. You probably invested thousands of dollars in attaining that liquor license and intend to maintain it indefinitely.
Unfortunately, as a business owner, your actions aren’t the only ones that can affect your company’s licensing and options in the future. The people on your staff who serve and handle liquor can make mistakes that could result in the loss of your license.
Knowing some of the most glaring and significant mistakes staff members can make can help you train your employees and monitor their behavior for dangerous habits.
Serving a minor alcohol or letting a minor serve
Obviously, liquor laws are clear about the fact that only those over the age of 21 can legally purchase, possess and consume alcohol. The staff at your Colorado restaurant or bar has to comply with that rule, even if someone knows the minors coming in to order a beer.
Additionally, no matter how busy you get, it’s important that your staff members know they can never delegate the mixing or serving of alcohol to employees who aren’t legally old enough to handle it. Violations involving minors with access to alcohol could easily cost you your liquor license.
Serving someone who is visibly drunk
If someone has been at the bar all night downing drinks, the person serving them wants them to leave in a good mood. Closing out the tab is when they will likely tip the people whose income depends on their generosity.
An entire night of drinking and good service could wound up forgotten instantaneously if a server denied income depends on their generosity. Make sure that your waitstaff understands that they should never serve someone who’s drunk and should instead practice declining people politely so that they don’t lose gratuities for following the law.
Serving alcohol after last call
Last call rules exist because the staff at a restaurant or bar will need a few minutes to make up and serve drinks before the daily deadlines for the end of service. Regardless of the situation, your staff cannot serve or sell alcohol during times when the law prohibits such sales. At the legal cutoff time for service, they must cease pouring drinks. Patrons can potentially stay for a little while to finish their last round.
Violations of Colorado liquor laws can mean the suspension or even revocation of your license, which could be the end of your business. You have the right to fight back if your business faces accusations of liquor law violations.